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BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA(BiH), a state on the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Croatia in the north and west, and Serbia and Montenegro in the east and southeast. It has access to the Adriatic Sea. The length of the coastline is 20 km. From 1878 it was part of Austria-Hungary, from 1918 - the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, from 1929 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, from 1945 to April 1992 - the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

After the conquest by the Turks, the Bosnian Bogomils were converted to Islam en masse (only a few Bosnians adopted the Christian faith, in particular the Catholic one). The massive conversion, unique in its scale, gave Bosnia a special status within the Ottoman Empire. The territory of Bosnia was retained and expanded with a number of Croatian territories. The Muslim elite of Bosnia received the status of hereditary nobility.

The religious landscape of Bosnia became more complex after migrants who called themselves Vlachs and considered themselves Orthodox Christians entered the service of the border guards of the Ottoman Empire in northwestern Bosnia. Over time, they began to identify themselves with the Serbs. In addition, during the Ottoman rule, a significant proportion of the Catholic population of Herzegovina converted to Orthodoxy.

In 1839, after several centuries of struggle with the feudal landowners, the government declared the equality of all subjects of the Ottoman Empire before the law and abolished the feudal military system.

In 1848, the governor of Bosnia abolished the so-called korve - the free labor of serfs for their landowner. Less wealthy landowners (yup) did not want to lose the corve, but their rebellion (1849-1851) was crushed. The feudal landowners were completely reconciled with the government when it issued a decree in 1859 declaring the feudal lords full owners of the land and turning the peasants into sharecroppers. By this decree, the peasants received freedom; but many of them voluntarily or under duress renounced their right to lease land. In 1875 there were several hundred beys (or large landowners), more than 6,000 aga, 77,000 peasant families (mostly Muslim) and 85,000 families of sharecroppers, mostly Orthodox (Serbs) and Catholics (Croats).

Some landowners strove to keep the corve and the higher rent, which was granted to them under the law of 1848. Due to a bad harvest in 1875, famine struck Herzegovina. The uprising that broke out that year was both political and economic. For ideological reasons, it split into several currents: for unification with Serbia, for unification with Croatia, and for autonomy. By decision of the Berlin Congress of 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina were transferred to the rule of Austria-Hungary.

Austro-Hungarian rule.

During the rule of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the representative of Austria-Hungary, Benjamin Kallai von Nagy-Kallo (1883-1903), the economy of the region developed intensively. Railroads were laid, banks were founded, woodworking enterprises and tobacco factories were built. However, at the same time, dissatisfaction with the policy of Kalai, who established a semi-colonial regime based on officials from Austria-Hungary, also grew. In addition, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an arena of rivalry between Croats and Serbs. The Austro-Hungarian administration hindered the province's ties with Croatia and encouraged regional national sentiments.

The struggle for Bosnia and Herzegovina reached its climax in 1903 with the accession to the throne in Serbia of Peter I Karageorgievich. In an environment of growing Serbian nationalism, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, bringing Europe to the brink of war.

Even before the annexation, control of the Serbian nationalist movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina began to gradually shift from conservatives to radicals. The younger generation of Serbian nationalists sought to unite with Serbia, while not neglecting any methods, including terrorist ones. Terrorists who had contacts with Serbian military intelligence, after the failure of a number of assassination attempts on Austro-Hungarian officials, managed to kill Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914. This political assassination in Sarajevo prompted Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia and served as a pretext for unleashing the First World War.

Yugoslav period.

At the end of the First World War, when Austria-Hungary collapsed, Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (in 1929-1945 - the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Between the two world wars, the dominant Muslim party, the Yugoslav Muslim Organization (YUMO), fought for the autonomy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but King Alexander I Karageorgievich (1921–1934), after declaring a royal dictatorship in 1929, divided Bosnia and Herzegovina into several banovinas. In 1939, Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Cvetkovic reached an agreement with Croatian opposition leader Vladko Macek (1879–1964) to create an autonomous banovina of Croatia. Subsequently, the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the majority of the population were Croats, were included in Croatia. This strategic mistake demoralized many Muslims and led both Serb and Croatian nationalists to regard the rest of Bosnia as a legitimate part of Serbia.

During World War II, Germany and its allies divided Yugoslavia into several regions, incorporating Bosnia and Herzegovina into the independent Ustaše-led Axis satellite state of Croatia. This period was characterized by the persecution of the Serbs by the Ustasha, and there were clashes between Muslims and Serbian Chetniks, who advocated the creation of a monarchy.

Post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina received the status of a republic in the Yugoslav federation, created on the Soviet model by Josip Broz Tito. During the first post-war years until 1966, Serbs dominated the leading bodies of the republic, continuing the persecution of Croatian and Muslim nationalists and all religious communities. Subsequently, Tito came to rely more heavily on the communist leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who took a hard line to nullify the ambitions of both Serbia and Croatia. At the same time, Tito supported the Bosnian Muslims as an established national group, creating increasingly favorable conditions for them as a price for loyalty to his regime. After Tito's death, Serb claims to Bosnia began to grow, while Muslim separatism and Croat resistance grew stronger.

Civil War.

On November 18, 1990, after the first post-war elections in BiH on a multi-party basis (as part of the SFRY), the communists handed over power to a coalition government consisting of representatives of three parties: the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), which was backed by the bulk of Bosnian Muslims; Serbian Democratic Party (SDP) and Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Thus, the anti-communist coalition won 202 out of 240 seats in both chambers of the Assembly of BiH (SDA - 86, SDP - 72, CDU - 44).

After the elections, a coalition government was formed from representatives of the parties of all three Bosnian national communities. F.Abdich and A.Izetbegovic won the elections to the Presidium of BiH according to the Muslim quota, N.Kolevich and B.Plavsic won according to the Serbian quota, S.Klyuich and F.Boras won according to the Croatian quota. The leader of the Bosnian Muslims A. Izetbegovic (b. 1925), who even before the early 1990s advocated the creation of an Islamic state in Bosnia, became the Chairman of the Presidium.

Croatian J.Pelivan was elected Prime Minister of BiH, Serb M.Kraishnik was elected Speaker of the Parliament. The tactical pre-election coalition broke up already in early 1991, as Muslim and Croatian deputies proposed to discuss the Declaration of Sovereignty of BiH in parliament, while Serbian deputies advocated keeping it within Yugoslavia. Thus, the all-state Serbian Democratic Party, under the leadership of Radovan Karadzic, even before the formal declaration of independence of the republics, proclaimed its goal to unite all Serbs in one state. Already by the autumn of 1991, under the impression of hostilities in Croatia, Muslim deputies called for the independence of BiH, and the Croats and Serbs in the memorandum to the parliament were called "national minorities". Serbian deputies left the parliament in protest on October 25 and created its analogue - the Assembly of the Serbian People. On January 9, 1992, they proclaimed the formation of the Serbian Republic of BiH (later renamed the Republika Srpska) and elected Radovan Karadzic (b. 1945) as its president. These decisions were made taking into account the results of the plebiscite in the Serbian part of BiH.

In response to such actions, Croatian and Muslim deputies called for a national referendum, which took place on February 29 - March 1, 1992. Despite the boycott by the Serbs, 63.4% of voters took part in the referendum, and 62.68% of them voted for independence and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina (40% of citizens with the right to vote). On April 6, 1992, the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognized by the EU countries, although not all questions about the ratio of the three constitutional constituent parts (on a national basis) of a single state were resolved.

Since March 1992, military clashes began in BiH, connected with the blocking by Muslim paramilitary units of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), which were leaving Bosnia. Already in April, these events provoked a civil war, which began with an attack on Sarajevo and other cities.

On May 12, 1992, the Assembly of Bosnian Serbs decided to create an army of the Republika Srpska under the command of General Ratko Mladic (b. 1943). By this time, parts of the JNA had left Bosnia, although many of its military personnel as part of the new army took part in the hostilities. In 1992–1993 they controlled ca. 70% of the country's territory, while Muslim armed formations - approx. 20%, and the rest - Croatian units. Ethnic cleansing took place in all three parts of BiH, which became more and more ethnically homogeneous.

On July 3, 1992, the Croatian population of Bosnia proclaimed the creation of the Croatian Commonwealth of Herzeg-Bosna (since 1993 - the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosna), headed by President Kresimir Zubak. The aggravated internal situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina required the intervention of international forces - the UN and the OSCE.

In 1992-1993, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina sought support from the European Union, the United States and the United Nations. A small UN security force was deployed in the country, and economic assistance was provided. At the end of 1992, peace talks began in Geneva, led by Lord D. Owen (Great Britain) and S. Vance (USA), representing the EU and the UN, respectively. The plan, formulated by the EU and UN mediators, originally envisaged the division of the country into 10 ethnically homogeneous regions in a loose federation with weak central executive and economic power. The Bosnian Serbs under the leadership of Radovan Karadzic, who captured a significant part of the territory, were supposed to return it to the Muslim Bosniaks. Only the Bosnians and Croats agreed with this plan, while the Serbs categorically rejected it. Croatian troops started a war with the Bosnians in order to annex to Croatia areas that were not yet controlled by the Serbs. US President Bill Clinton initially expressed support for the idea of ​​a multinational Bosnian state, but soon announced his intention to arm the Bosnians and use NATO military aircraft against the "Serb aggressors."

By the fall of 1993, Owen, together with the Norwegian diplomat T. Stoltenberg, who replaced Vance, proposed a new plan, according to which a single BiH was built on a confederate basis and included three national territories. In accordance with the Washington Agreements signed on March 18, 1994, Duke-Bosna was transformed into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes territories inhabited by Bosnian Muslims and Croats. Since some areas were controlled by Serbian armed groups, they had to be liberated first, and for this purpose the composition of the peacekeeping force was increased to 35,000 troops with the leading participation of NATO countries. On February 27, 1994, the NATO Air Force shot down 4 Serbian aircraft, and on April 10 and 11 bombed Serb positions.

Initially, the clashes were positional in nature, but in July, Bosnian Serb troops captured the Muslim enclaves of Srebrenica and Zepa, threatening Gorazde.

In August - September 1995, NATO aircraft began bombing the positions of the Bosnian Serbs. This led to the forcing of negotiations, which were mediated by the United States. The government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the first time during the war, agreed to recognize the autonomy of the Serb community (on 49% of the territory of BiH). In turn, Serbia and Croatia recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina. The talks laid the groundwork for an agreement between the three political forces on the final boundaries of the disputed territories. After the death of 37 people on August 20, 1995, as a result of an explosion in the market in Sarajevo, the responsibility for which was assigned to the Serbs, NATO aircraft began to launch massive attacks on their combat positions, and the combined Croatian-Muslim forces went on the offensive. As a result, the territories controlled by them exceeded 51% of the entire BiH.

To resolve the situation, on November 1, 1995, negotiations began at an airbase near Dayton (Ohio, USA) to resolve the Bosnian conflict. They ended on November 21, 1995 after the initialing in Dayton by Serbian President S. Milosevic (heading the joint delegation of the FRY and Bosnian Serbs), Croatian President F. Tudjman and Chairman of the Presidium of Bosnia and Herzegovina A. Izetbegovic of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A peacekeeping contingent was left on the territory of the state. The world community in BiH is represented by civilians - the High Representative for the Coordination of Civil Aspects of the Dayton Accords, the head of the OSCE mission, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, representatives of individual countries, as well as the 60,000-strong military contingent (its number is gradually decreasing), the core of which is NATO troops . The international military presence deterred the previously warring parties from continuing hostilities. However, the governments of both state entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina did not seek cooperation. Despite international financial assistance, the country's economy was characterized by a complete collapse of industry, trade and other sectors of the economy, and a high level of unemployment. In addition, many refugees were unable or unwilling to return to their homes. The Serbian part of Sarajevo was handed over to the Muslims, which left about 150 thousand people.

In general, the war in BiH claimed more than 200 thousand human lives, and more than 200 peacekeepers were killed. From the eastern part of Bosnia, approx. 800 thousand Muslims, from the western and central parts - approx. 600 thousand Serbs, and from the central - approx. 300 thousand Croats.

Modern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Accords entered into force after they were signed on December 14, 1995 in Paris. Bosnia and Herzegovina retained its integrity, but was divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) (Bosnia and Croats) and the Republika Srpska (RS) (Serbs). 51% of the territory went to the FBiH, and 49% to the RS. Each entity had its own legislative bodies, government, police, administrative apparatus, and armed forces.

Since December 1995, in the context of a large-scale external military and political presence, Bosnia and Herzegovina has actually turned into a protectorate, although the size of the military contingent has been reduced to 30 thousand people. Since January 1996, the international community has begun to exercise political control over Bosnia and Herzegovina through its High Representative. In January 1996 - June 1997 this post was held by K. Bildt, the former Prime Minister of Sweden. In June 1997 he was replaced by K. Westendorp, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain.

The first elections after the war were held on September 14, 1996. The election of representatives of power structures took place at seven levels, including the federal Presidium, as well as the parliaments of the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH. Several coalitions took part in the elections. In one of them - the Single List of Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU BiH) - the Social Democratic Party, the Croatian Peasants' Party, the Bosnian Organization and the Republican Party united. The Coalition for a United and Democratic United Bosnia and Herzegovina (KUD) was formed by the Democratic Action Party (SDA), the Party for BiH, the Liberal Party and the Civic Democratic Party. The Croatian Democratic Community took part in the elections independently. The two main Serbian parties, the Serbian Democratic Party (SDP) and the Serbian Radical Party (SRP) of the RS, entered the elections on a single ticket. The Union for Peace and Progress (SMP), a coalition of Bosnian Serbs that united the Independent Social Democratic Party (NSDP), the Socialist Party of the RS (SP RS) and the Social Liberal Party (SLP), also announced its participation in the elections. A small single list called "Opposition of the RS" was formed by several small opposition parties in Republika Srpska. In the Federation of BiH, the CED coalition received 67% of the votes of the electorate, the Croatian Democratic Commonwealth and the SDP/PSK - 18% each, the EU BiH - 10%. In the Republika Srpska, the SDP/SRP collected 61% of the vote, the RS Opposition 22, the CUD 13 and the EU BiH 2%. In general, in the two entities of BiH, the winners in the general parliamentary elections were: CUD - 43% of those who took part in the vote, SDP / SRP - 15%, CDU - 11%, EU BiH - 7%. The leaders of the winning parties in the elections were elected to the Presidium of BiH - Muslim A.Izetbegovic, Serb M.Kraishnik and Croat K.Zubak. A. Izetbegovic became the Chairman of the BiH Presidium. B. Plavsic was elected President of the Republika Srpska.

After Dayton, the integrity of the country was ensured by the implementation of the agreement under the control of NATO. Parliamentary elections in BiH, as well as presidential elections in the Republika Srpska, were held on September 12–13, 1998 under the patronage of the OSCE and in the presence of 3,000 observers. In these elections, along with the previous coalitions (for example, CUD, SDP / SWP, etc.), new ones were formed and took part. Among them is the Sloga coalition, which united the NSDP, the Serbian People's Union (SNS) and the Socialist Party of the RS (SP RS). The SDA remained in the CUD, while the CDU participated in the elections on its own. In these elections in the Republika Srpska Sloga, the coalition won 33% of the vote, the SDP/SRP - 37%, the SDP - 2%, the CUD -19%, the CDU - 1%. In the Federation of BiH, the votes of the electorate were distributed in the following order: CUD - 49%, CDU - 20%, PSD - 14%, SD - 4%. Thus, the social democratic parties collected 18% of the votes of the federal electorate.

As a result of the elections in the federal parliament of BiH, the following coalitions and parties are represented: CUD - 17 seats, HDZ BiH - 6, Social Democratic Party of BiH - 6, Sloga Coalition - 4, Serbian Democratic Party - 4, Serbian Radical Party RS - 2, Democratic People's Union - 1, Independent Croatian Initiative - 1, Radical Party of RS - 1.

In the House of Representatives of the Federation of BiH, the seats were distributed as follows: CUD - 68 seats, HDZ BiH - 28, Social Democratic Party of BiH - 25, Independent Croatian Initiative - 4, Democratic People's Union - 3, Democratic Party of Pensioners - 2, Bosnian Patriotic party -2, Croatian Party of the Right -2, Socialist Party of the Republika Srpska - 2, Bosnian Party of the Right - 1, Center Coalition - 1, Bosnian Party - 1, Croatian Peasants' Party - 1.

In the Parliament of the RS, the Serbian Democratic Party won 19 seats, the CUD - 15, the Serbian National Union - 12, the Serbian Radical Party of the RS - 11, the Socialist Party of the RS - 10, the NSDP - 6, the Radical Party of the RS - 3, the Serbian Coalition of the RS - 2, the Social -Democratic Party - 2, Coalition for the King and Motherland - 1, HDZ BiH - 1, Independent Croatian Initiative - 1. Thus, politicians of nationalist orientation, representatives of such "mono-ethnic parties ”, as SDA, CDU and SDP.

The Presidium of BiH included from the Muslims - A. Izetbegovic, from the Croats - A. Jelavic, from the Serbs - Z. Radisic. At the end of 1998, the leader of the Socialist Party of the Republika Srpska, Zivko Radisic, became the Chairman of the BiH Presidium; it is changed in turn (every 8 months) by A. Izetbegovic, who advocates a “united Muslim” Bosnia, and also by A. Jelavic, who advocates the annexation of the part of the country inhabited by Croats to Croatia. At the same time, the pro-European B.Plavsic was replaced as president of the RS by the leader of the nationalistic Serbian Radical Party, Nikola Poplashen. On March 4, 1999, by decision of the High Representative of the International Community in Bosnia, K. Westendorp, he was dismissed, and the presidential post remained vacant for a year and a half.

In the spring of 1999, BiH did not develop a unified state position in connection with the crisis in Kosovo. Its constituent parts supported the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, signed on June 10, 1999 by the parties to the conflict and neighboring countries. The already undermined economy suffered significant losses from the blockade of Yugoslavia. At the same time, the Bosnians and, to a lesser extent, the Croats actively supported the positions of the Kosovars, and the Serbs - the FRY. At the same time, the leadership of BiH assumed that the crisis would be the reason for the accelerated admission of the country to NATO.

Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 21st century

In 2000-2001, BiH continued to be a deeply divided country: with a central government with almost no real power, an economy based on humanitarian aid, and unity provided by the UN and NATO. However, integration trends in politics and positive shifts in the economy were outlined and intensified. So, with the help of the German Volkswagen and the Czech Skoda, the production of local passenger cars of obsolete models was launched, which are exported to neighboring countries.

In the parliamentary elections on November 12, 2000, a little over 50% of voters took part. In general, the elections were held with serious violations and not according to the OSCE scenario, which assumed the participation of the Bosnian Serbs. In the federal parliament, the SDP won 26.6% of all seats, the SDA - 24.9% and the CDU - 23.1%. The leader of the Social Democratic Party B. Matic, who supports the course towards the integration of the country, became the chairman of the council of ministers. In July 2001, after his resignation, Zlatko Lagumdzhija became Prime Minister of BiH.

In the Federation of BiH, the Social Democratic Party of Z. Lagumdzhii won with a slight advantage (25.9% of mandates), the second place was taken by the SDA - 25.1%, the third - by the CDU (19.5%), the fourth - by the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina of the former Head of Cabinet H. Silajdzic.

The Serbian Democratic Party won a convincing victory in the elections to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH from the Republika Srpska, to the National Assembly of the RS itself, as well as in the elections of the President and Vice-President of the RS. In the National Assembly of the RS, she holds 36.8% of the deputy mandates. M. Sarovich was elected President of the RS, D. Chavic was elected Vice-President. M.Ivanich became prime minister. The Party of Independent Social Democrats of the former Prime Minister of the RS M. Dodik lost the elections.

In November of the same year, BiH restored diplomatic relations with the FRY, and on January 22, 2001, V. Kostunica visited the country, who was met by all three co-chairs of the Presidium of BiH. On March 5, an agreement on diplomatic relations between the FRY and the RS was signed in Banja Luka.

2001 became a decisive year in establishing contacts between the official representatives of the Russian Federation, BiH and Republika Srpska. So, in December, Prime Minister of BiH Z. Lagumdzhiya arrived in Moscow with the aim of establishing business ties between the two countries.

On March 22, 2001, the UN Security Council recognized the situation in BiH as satisfactory, although it condemned some manifestations of nationalism. At the same time, the prospect of returning most of the 400,000 refugees by mid-2001 remained uncertain. By the beginning of 2002, the peacekeeping contingent in BiH was 17.5 thousand people.

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Rest should occupy a significant place in the life of every person. Tired of everyday hustle and bustle, we often look for a place where we could escape from problems at least for a while and feel like a free person. A lot of people prefer to stay in the mountains. Clean air, snowy peaks, skiing - all these are integral attributes of such a holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Peculiarities

Today, few countries can offer a really good vacation with high quality service for little money. Resorts in France and other European countries are very prestigious, but not available to everyone. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a real salvation for lovers of active pastime. This small country on the Balkan Peninsula is almost completely hidden in the mountains. Cozy location, mild climate for the mountains, many beautiful landscapes - this country has everything to be called a tourist center.

general information

The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, and occupies an area of ​​almost 52 thousand square meters. km. The population is 4 million people. Official languages: Bosnian dialect of Serbo-Croatian, Croatian and Serbian. Currency - convertible mark (BAM). 100 BAM = $BAM:USD:100:2. Time zone UTC + 1, local time is 2 hours behind Moscow. Mains voltage 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz, C, F. Telephone country code +387. Internet domain.ba.

A brief excursion into history

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a state, was born in the Middle Ages, and gained independence in 1992. In ancient times, these territories were inhabited in the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages, as evidenced by cultural monuments and images in caves. The Slavs came to these lands in the 6th-7th centuries, during the Middle Ages, the Bosnian Banat was formed, and then the Kingdom consisting of Herzegovina. After the Ottoman conquest, the state was under the rule of the Turks. In 1929, the state formation of Yugoslavia was formed, which included the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the Second World War, the country was occupied by German troops and incorporated into the fascist Independent State of Croatia. During the liberation army of Yugoslavia in 1945, Bosnia and Herzegovina was liberated and incorporated into Yugoslavia as a federal republic, and the state received independence in 1992.

Climate

The temperate continental climate prevails over most of the country, but in fact, due to the peculiarities of the local relief, there are a large number of microclimatic zones here. The southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry, hot summers and warm, wet winters. In the valleys, the average temperature is +16..+27 degrees in summer, and in mountainous areas +10..+21, in winter - 0..-7 degrees, and can drop to -16 degrees.

Visa and customs regulations

To enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not need to apply for a visa in advance; for a short stay at the border, an entry stamp is affixed. Customs regulations comply with generally accepted norms.

How to get there

There is no national airline in the country, as well as a direct connection with. There are regular connecting flights by European and other air carriers: Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Adria Airways and Jat. The most economical flights from Russia to Bosnia and Herzegovina are via, or, and then by land transport to the resort. By train, you can get from Russia to Bosnia and Herzegovina only with a transfer through other major cities:,.

Transport

The country has a well-developed bus service. Buses are new and modern. Even if you sit down somewhere along the way, the steward will issue you a ticket, a ticket and a receipt.

Cities and resorts

There are four ski resorts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which in 1984 were even Olympic venues:

Jahorina– a ski center with all the necessary paraphernalia for skiing. 20 km of slopes are equipped for skiing. It has its own instructor school, where they conduct training for beginners. A very popular European ski resort.

Belashnitsa- For skiing, the place is simply amazing. There are several special lifts to the peaks, including those for children. Near the snow elephants there are several hotels where you can stay.

Vlasic- located between several major cities. In the very center of Vlašić, a wellness center was built, which is famous throughout Bosnia. Also on its territory there are many hotels and individual apartments where you can relax. Four operating lifts, experienced instructors.

Kupres– the resort is available for skiing 5 months a year. In addition to skiing, dog sledding, sledding and snowmobiling are also available.

Thus, finding a suitable resort is not difficult. However, in addition to such active recreation, in Bosnia and Herzegovina cultural recreation is also possible with a visit to local attractions. For example, in the capital of the country, the city, you can see many architectural and historical monuments. The city was founded in 1263 and still retains a special charm of antiquity.

Sometimes it may seem to a tourist that he really got into a medieval place with all its flavor: a Turkish bazaar, narrow streets, old buildings, mosques and noisy markets. Before the Second World War, Sarajevo practically did not look like a modern city, but now a vibrant life is already beginning to boil there. Construction of new houses and centers is underway, the city center is being equipped. However, local residents do not want to completely modernize their ancient city and are trying to preserve the mystery and mystery of the Middle Ages in everything. In addition to Sarajevo, there are many other cities in the country whose history stems from ancient times.

The beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina lies in the fact that, along with modern high-class hotels and chic apartments, there are simple old houses of centuries ago. And this complements the image of this amazing country, decorates it in various colors.

Any tourist who has visited Bosnia and Herzegovina will be impressed by this trip for a long time. The different types of recreation offered here contrast beautifully with each other. Fabulous mountain plains and the charm of medieval buildings will not leave indifferent even the most spoiled traveler.

Accommodation

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can choose the best accommodation option from a large number of hotels. In the seaside town of Neum, you can book 2-4 * hotels, in other cities there are many 3-4 * and several 5 * hotels. The best hotels in Banja Luka are Cezar, Palas, Bosna, Atina, Cubic and Talija. The best hotels in Sarajevo are Hollywood, Holiday Inn, Bosnia, Saraj, Park, Grand and Astra. Campsites are not very common.

Geographical position

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a continental state located in Southeastern Europe, in the west of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has a narrow outlet to the Adriatic Sea. This state consists of historical regions: Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total area of ​​the country is 51,129 sq. km.

The capital is the city of Sarajevo (population about 800 thousand people.). Major cities: Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar, Zenica, Bihac and Travnik.

Most of the country's territory is occupied by the limestone Dinaric Alps. The highest point is Mount Maglic, whose height is 2386 m. The mountains are dissected by deep river valleys.

To the north of them stretched a chain of lower Bosan ore mountains. The northern part of Bosnia is covered by the Sava Plain.
In the mountainous areas, “fields” are common, they are narrow intermountain valleys that are of karst origin.

Most rivers flow north. Some of them flow into the Adriatic Sea. The largest rivers of the country are: Sava in the north, Una in the west and Drina in the east. There are many waterfalls on the rivers. The Studeny waterfall is the highest in the Balkans, its height is 400 meters.

A warm Mediterranean climate prevails in the south of the country. In summer, the air temperature here rises to +30 °C. Summers are hot and dry, winters are quite warm. In the mountains (above 1700 m) the climate is alpine, on the northern plain it is temperate continental. In the north, precipitation is 600-800 mm per year, in the mountains - up to 2500 mm. Snow in the mountains can lie until early summer.

In summer, the air in the valleys warms up to +16 - +27 C. In winter, the air temperature ranges from 0 to -7 C.
Mountain relief has a huge impact on the climatic conditions of the country. The average annual temperature in the country is +12C. The average temperature in July reaches +21C, in January - +2C.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to visit the country.

Import and export of national and foreign currency is not limited, but a declaration is required. The same applies to the import and export of products made of gold and precious metals.
The import and export of drugs, psychotropic substances, poisons, weapons and ammunition is prohibited. You can import duty-free into the country 1 liter of alcohol, 200 pcs. cigarettes, 1 radio, 1 portable tape recorder, 1 video camera, etc. It is forbidden to take fuel out of the country. When traveling by car, the spare canister should contain no more than 10 liters of fuel. Without a special permit, objects and things of historical and artistic value cannot be exported from the country. To import animals, you need a certificate from a veterinarian and a vaccination certificate.

Population, political condition

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a single state, which consists of two state entities: the Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. The Federation includes 51% of the territory - west, center and south; as well as the capital - the city of Sarajevo. The Republic of Srpska includes 49% of the territory.

The population of the country is 3989 thousand people. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are 2,702 thousand inhabitants, in the Republika Srpska - 1,505 thousand people. The population consists of three main national-religious communities: Bosniaks - 48% (Muslims, mostly Sunnis); Serbs - 37% (Orthodox), Croats - 14% (Catholics). Albanians, Montenegrins, Gypsies, Jews also live in the country.

Bosnia is predominantly populated by Bosniaks (south and west of the region), the northern and southern regions are inhabited by the Croatian majority. Serbian Republic is dominated by Serbs. Herzegovina is inhabited by Croats in the west and Serbs in the east. This is one and the same ethnic group, the differences are only in religious affiliation.

Each entity has its own government, police, legislature, army. Both formations are subordinate to the central government - the collective presidium. The Presidium consists of three representatives of each of the main peoples of the state: Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. The highest legislative body is the Assembly, which consists of two chambers.

The official languages ​​in the Federation are: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian. Serbian is the official language in Republika Srpska. In fact, these languages ​​represent the same Serbo-Croatian language. The Federation uses the Latin alphabet, while the Republika Srpska uses the Cyrillic alphabet. English can only be used in large cities, in the provinces no one understands it.

The territory of the country is divided into 10 cantons. Brcko district has a special status. It is located in Republika Srpska and is inhabited by Bosniaks. This district is subordinate to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is controlled by international forces for the safety of residents. The Republic of Srpska consists of two isolated parts, which are separated by the Brcko region: northern (the main city is Banja Luka) and eastern (the main city is Pale).

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a republic headed by a president.

The state is headed in turn by one of the three presidents, who represent one of the three ethnic groups. Presidents replace each other every 8 months. In their respective regions, they are elected by universal secret ballot for a four-year term.

The head of government is the chairman of the Council of Ministers. He is nominated for this post from among the cabinet members and approved by the National House of Representatives.

Legislative power is exercised by the bicameral Assembly, in which all three ethnic groups are equally represented.

What to see

On the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, many architectural monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods have been preserved. But many of them were damaged or destroyed during the hostilities. The tourist infrastructure was completely destroyed then.

Sarajevo is the capital of the country. This city was founded in 1263 and was then called Bosnovar. It is surrounded by mountains, located at an altitude of 450 m above sea level.

Before the war, Sarajevo almost completely retained its oriental appearance. The city had many mosques, markets, narrow streets, bazaars. On the embankment, at a small bridge on Franz Josef Street, on June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. After that, the First World War began.
In 1992, a civil war began here. The city withstood a three-year siege, but was able to recover almost completely. Although traces of the war are still visible in it. Gradually, the tourist infrastructure is being restored here.

The eastern part of the city is Christian. It is located on a plain and is almost completely built up with houses of various architectures. Muslim quarters are located on the slopes of the mountains and are separated by the Milyachka River. Here the houses are scattered in small groups, between them there are gardens.

The city has preserved two Orthodox churches - Saints Michael and Gabriel and the Cathedral Church of the Holy Mother of God. Here you can see four Catholic churches. The Cathedral, built in the 18th century, is the spiritual center of the Bosnian Catholics.

There are 3 synagogues in Sarajevo. The Old Synagogue now houses the Jewish Museum with the famous Haggadah Code. The City Hall ("Vechnitsa") also deserves attention. It was built in 1896 and is made in the Moorish style.

But most of all in the city of Muslim buildings, many of which are considered to be masterpieces of Ottoman architecture. The most famous of them are: the mosque "Tsareva-Jamia" (XVI century), Ali-Pasha-Jamia, "Begova-Jamia" (XV century), which is the largest in the country. Kursumli Madrasah was built in 1537. It is famous for its library, which has about 50 thousand manuscripts and books.

Also noteworthy are: the Barcharshiya tower (XV century), the old caravanserai (XV century) on Morika-Khan, a Turkish fortress with 12 towers on a rocky ledge.

A single-span "Goat Bridge" is thrown across the Milyachka River; it is considered one of the most ancient monuments of the city. The "Latin Bridge" on the same river is famous for the fact that Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed here. Next to it is a museum of Princip, who became the killer.

Among other museums, it is worth highlighting the Bosnian Regional Museum and the Zemalski Museum of Local Lore. You can also see the Olympic facilities here.

It is also worth visiting the "charshiya" market and the "Bar-charshiya" shopping area. They are a whole area in the old part of the city. There are many shops and shops, cafes, pastry shops, etc.

Here you can also visit Pigeon Square, where you can see hundreds of pigeons. Not far from here is the Gazi-Khosrov-Beg trading square with many shops and the Brus trading square, which was once one of the major stations of the Great Silk Road.

Balneo-climatic resort Ilidzhe (Kesheli) is located 13 km west of Sarajevo, at an altitude of 500-570 m above sea level. It lies in the Sarajevo field basin, surrounded by the Igman ridges (up to 1502 m high) and Trebovich. Mountains protect this place from cold winds. This thermal resort is widely known in Europe. The temperature of the thermal waters here ranges from +32 to +57.6 C. There is also sulfide silt mud here, and the local climate is great for treatment.

The medieval town of Jajce is interesting for its colorful old houses, cobbled streets and fortress walls. It lies on the banks of the Pliva and Vrbas rivers. Until the 15th century, this city was the capital of the Christian rulers of Bosnia. During the Nazi occupation, the city was the temporary capital of the country. Here the capital of independent Yugoslavia was proclaimed and the Constitution was created.

During the war, the city managed to somehow preserve its ancient appearance, so it attracts many tourists. The main sights of this city can be called: the famous complex of buildings of the Esma-Sultan mosque, the Church of St. Luke, old houses. On the Pliva River, you can also see a cascade of small but very colorful waterfalls and a complex of ancient watermills.

Mostar is considered the unofficial capital of southern Herzegovina. It is the second largest city in the country.

Mostar is located on the rocky banks of the Neretva River. It was founded around the 15th century. This city has a military history. Unfortunately, many of its historical buildings and structures were destroyed during the recent war.
Among them are the famous "Stari Most" over the waters of the Neretva and several mosques of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Tabakic Mosque has now been restored.

The ancient district of Kuyundzhiluk has been preserved in good condition, in which there are a lot of monuments of Islamic architecture, medieval buildings, colorful cobbled streets.

The main attraction of the city is the Old Bridge. It was built by the architect Mimar Khairuddin in 1566. This bridge towered 20 meters above the water. It is one of the main architectural monuments of the country and is included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. In November 1993, the bridge was destroyed by Croatian artillery fire; it was restored only in July 2004.

Also preserved (or restored) were the Halebija and Tara towers that supported the Stari-Most, Mostar University, the Kriva-Kupria (“Crooked Bridge”) bridge, mosques and a monument in honor of the fallen during the years of the struggle against fascism. A unique historical monument are the fortresses in the village of Pochitel, which is located a few kilometers southwest of Mostar. St. Stephen's Fortress is located just downstream of the Neretva.

In the town of Blagaj, 10 km south of Mostar, there is a massive fortress of the same name.

Medugorje is a small village. It lies 17 km southwest of Mostar, almost on top of a mountain between Chitluk and Lubuski. This place gained worldwide fame on June 24, 1981. Then the Virgin Mary appeared to six local teenagers on a rocky hill Podbrdo, 5 kilometers from the village.

After that, the village began to develop actively. It has become a very important center of pilgrimage. An extensive tourist infrastructure has been created here. The civil war reduced the number of pilgrims to a minimum. But now many believers are coming here again.

The city of Banja Luka lies on the banks of the Vrbas River, in the northwestern part of the country. Previously, it did not stand out in any way, and at present it is the capital of the Serbian Republic. The city was first mentioned in chronicles at the end of the 15th century. It was a large industrial city, where there were practically no tourists. In 1993, Serbian militias blew up all 16 mosques in the city. Of the attractions now in the city, only the fortress on the banks of the Vrbas, built in the 16th century, the Presidential Palace, and the reconstructed Cathedral of Christ the Savior can be named.

In addition, the famous warm sulfur springs are located near the city, which have become one of the most popular balneo-climatic resorts in Europe.

Trebin is the most southeastern city in the country. On its outskirts, there is the Hercegovacka-Gracanica church, which is the national shrine of the Serbs. It is worth visiting the Kravice waterfall, located on the Trebijat River in Herzegovina.

Zhitomislich Monastery is located in the valley of the Neretva River. In the town of Travnik, lying between Jajce and Sarajevo, is the old residence of the Turkish governor.

In the II-I millennium BC. e. Illyrian tribes appeared on the territory of the country. In the 1st century BC e. the Romans came here, making these lands part of the province of Illyricum. In the 6th-7th centuries. n. e. Slavic tribes of Serbs and Croats settled here. Over time, they Slavicized the Romans as well. In 538, these lands were included in the Byzantine Empire. Missionaries Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century began to convert the local population to Christianity.

In 949, a small principality of Bosnia appeared, from 958 it became subject to the Croatian kings, and in 1000-1180. - passed into the possession of the Hungarian kings.

In 1180, the Bosnian Slavs created their own state, which was independent from Hungary. In 1326, Hum and Zahumle were included in its composition. These lands were the Adriatic coast, inhabited by Croats. By 1391, most of the population of Bosnia had been converted to the Catholic faith. And in Khum and Zahumla they professed Orthodoxy.
In 1449, the last ruler of Vukchich received the title of "herceg" (duke). After that, the southern part of Bosnia (Hum and Zahumle) was renamed Herzegovina. The eastern part of the territory of Bosnia was gradually conquered by the Turks, and the northern part by the Hungarians. In 1463-1528. most of the fragmented Bosnia became part of the Ottoman Empire. The population was gradually converted to Islam and the locals began to be called Bosniaks.

The Turks were tolerant of Orthodoxy. Many Catholics were forced to convert to Orthodoxy or flee the country. In 1875 there was a national liberation uprising. It ended in 1878. The Turks left the country, but the territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina were occupied by Austrian troops. The Bosnian Serbs wanted to join Serbia. To prevent this, Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908.

In August 1914, the heir to the Austrian throne was assassinated in Sarajevo. He was killed by Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip. This caused a political crisis that led to the outbreak of the First World War. In November 1918, Austria-Hungary collapsed. The territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Since 1929 it has been renamed Yugoslavia.

In the period 1941-1944. most of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of Croatia, and the southern part was part of Italy. The Croatian Ustashe massacred a large number of Muslims and Serbs.
In 1945, the Yugoslav People's Federation was created. Later it became known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Its constituent part was the newly formed Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1991, the Bosnian Republika Srpska was established in Serb-dominated areas. It was formally part of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. In March 1992, the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was proclaimed. The troops of the Bosnian Republika Srpska, supported by the Yugoslav army, started the war. Croats also joined them. Serbs and Croats wanted to exterminate the Muslim population (Bosniaks).

Serbian and Croatian nationalists massacred and deported the Bosniaks. Bosniaks declared jihad on Serbs and Croats. The country broke up into separate parts.

At the end of 1992, about 70% of the country's territory was occupied by Serbian troops. Many Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats fled the country. In 1994, a peace agreement was signed between Bosniaks and Croats. They united in the fight against the Serbs.
In 1995, 7 thousand inhabitants were killed in the city of Srebrenica. After that, Serbian military positions were bombed by NATO. The war ended in autumn 1995. Peace talks were held in Dayton (USA). Serbia and Croatia recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent state. Within it, the autonomy of the Serbian community was recognized.

The international community has controlled Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1996 to maintain peace in the country. There is a small NATO peacekeeping corps present there.

International trade

The main export products are: electricity, bauxite and aluminum, clothing, timber. Main exporters: Italy, Croatia, Austria, Germany and Slovenia.

The shops

The best clothing stores are located in the capital. There are also large shopping centers. Many bakery shops are open 24/7 or from early morning until late at night.

Throughout the country you can find a wide variety of souvenir shops and shops. An excellent gift will be gold jewelry, which is distinguished by its unusual beauty. You can bring from the country various products of local artisans. There are markets in every city.

You can bring local wines - "Zhilavka" and "Gargash" or grape vodka "Rakia". They also sell alcoholic drinks based on millet, orchid, to which the roots of wild orchids are added. They are drunk hot.

Products made from pure sheep's wool: handmade carpets with Bosnian patterns, blankets, etc.

Local sweets: baklava, Turkish delight, halva, baklava, baked nuts and plums, puff pastry stuffed with nuts or with different impregnations.

You can buy local olive oil.

Sarajevo sells unusual souvenirs made from shell casings and bullets.

Many religious souvenirs are sold in the country.

A variety of copper cutlery, as well as hand-carved wooden items. Souvenirs with the image of sights are also sold: T-shirts, caps. Magnets, plates, etc.

Demography

The population density is 90.3 people per km2.
The sex ratio is 0.968 men to 1 woman.

The urban population is 49.0% of the total population of the country. Urbanization rate - 1.1% per year. The rural population is 51.0% of the total population of the country.

The average age of the population is 40.7 years. The average age of the male population is 39.6 years, the female population is 41.9 years.

Life expectancy at birth for both sexes is 78.8 years. Life expectancy at birth is 75.3 years for men and 82.6 years for women.

Industry

Before the war, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises operated in the country. Such branches of industry as forestry and woodworking, textile, leather and footwear and food are quite well developed. Gradually, there is a restoration of enterprises in the mining, oil refining, and metallurgical industries.

In some industries, production continues to grow: automotive components, textiles, aviation and household appliances. The country produces cheap cars.

Flora and fauna

About 36% of the country's territory is occupied by forests. Beech and coniferous forests (pine, spruce) grow in the mountains and foothills. Subtropical vegetation (evergreen shrubs) predominates in the extreme south, while steppe and forest-steppe vegetation prevails on the plain.
Arable land accounts for about 20% of the territory, pastures - 22%. The country has national natural parks and reserves. Hutovo Blato is a place where you can watch migratory birds.
Sutjeiska is a wild forest of Perućica with pines reaching 54 m in height, Kozara (coniferous forests) and others.

Soils are mostly brown. The natural vegetation is represented by beech forests. The northern third of Bosnia is covered by the fertile Sava Plain.
The most common wild animals are: deer, chamois, bears and wolves.

Banks and money

Banknotes of Bosnia and Herzegovina / Currency converter

The national currency of the country is the Bosnian Mark. In circulation there are banknotes of 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 marks, coins of 5, 2 and 1 marks. It is best to change money only in official institutions - banks, exchange offices, hotels. This is due to frequent cases of fraud. The country has a low standard of living, so there are a lot of scammers here.

Using credit cards and traveler's checks is difficult. You can withdraw money from them only in the offices of the capital's banks, as well as in some hotels, post offices, restaurants and shops. More and more ATMs appear in the country, but they mainly serve only Maestro and Visa cards.

Travel checks can only be cashed at bank offices, but the procedure for checking their authenticity is very lengthy.

The euro is virtually ubiquitous. You can pay in euros even in ordinary shops and gas stations. But American dollars are accepted only in large hotels.

Banks of the country are open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 19.00. All receipts received during the exchange of money must be kept. They will be required for the return exchange when leaving the country.

The country has a well-developed bus service. However, a well-established passenger service operates only within national enclaves.

Some transit bus lines run through the enclaves and there are on-demand stops.

There are several dozens of small bus companies in the country. But the frequency of the message is not always acceptable for the tourist. In addition, buses can be late, there are also cancellations of flights.

When driving, be sure to use only the most up-to-date road maps. After all, serious changes occurred after the last Balkan war of 1992-1996.

In recent years, some roads, which used to be highways, have completely fallen into disrepair. In addition, new roads of very good quality have appeared. But they are not marked on old maps. This should be taken especially seriously in mountainous areas.

The roads in the country are not very good by European standards. Even the best highways have only 2 lanes in each direction of traffic.

The country is now relatively safe for tourists in terms of the criminal situation. However, a big problem is inter-ethnic hostility and fragmentation. The three main communities live quite apart in enclaves. In ordinary life, they rarely intersect.

The locals are friendly and hospitable, but wary of foreigners. In the Muslim regions of the country, the norms of decency traditional for Islamic countries have been adopted. However, women have equal rights with men and freely wear Western-style clothing. Although they walk with their heads covered. Some Bosnians freely drink alcohol, which is officially forbidden in Islam.

When meeting, locals greet each other with a handshake. The ability to speak and carry on a conversation is highly valued. European clothing is accepted everywhere. There are a lot of smokers in the country.

The country has a very high unemployment rate, which leads to social tension in society.

Tourists should not visit remote areas of settlements, especially at night.

Cases of petty fraud are not uncommon. When discussing financial matters, you need to be very careful and not trust the locals.

Until recently, there was a danger of falling into the zone of terrorist attacks. Now the situation is better, but tourists should be careful.

You should not discuss politics with local residents, as well as show your political sympathies. You need to be very careful when buying souvenirs of a political nature.

Some border areas are controlled by the International Peacekeeping Forces. Checks of documents, searches, etc. often take place at their checkpoints and outposts.

Photography is prohibited in many places, this is indicated by a special sign. It is forbidden to film transport infrastructure and energy facilities, port facilities and military installations.

Once upon a time, I was lucky to communicate with a real Serb who spoke excellent Russian. It was he who inspired me to travel to the beautiful country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In general, the name of this state somewhat does not correspond to the content, let's say, because I was expecting greatness and English chic for some reason, but I got a rather small and provincial country. However, there are a lot of beautiful and interesting things in this country, so I did not regret my time and had a great rest.

Speaking with a Serb, I asked a lot of questions about the history of the country, as I heard about its difficult fate. And when the conversation was already over, only then I realized that I had not asked a really interesting question, why Herzegovina is also called that and why two countries within one state have different names. I had to find out on my own.

Origin of country names

Both countries were formed in the 15th century thanks to the conqueror Stefan Vuksic Kosach, who was a voivode and was awarded the title of Duke of St. Sava, Primorye and Zachum. In honor of him, a small northeastern state was named, or rather, in honor of his acquired title. Therefore, the northern part of the state was called "Herzegovina". The southwestern part of the continent was named after the river that flows through the entire territory of Bosn. Bosna has long been the only source of food in the country, as large stocks of fish were caught in the river. The southern part of the continent was named Bosnia. Thus, the state and Herzegovina were formed.

Why is Herzegovina so called, but they are one state? Once these lands belonged to different tribes and settlements, and they were in contact with each other in a neighborly way. When the lands were united, it turned out that the ancestors of their settlements and ancestors did not want to give up their roots at all. The debate was long and in the end they decided to combine the two names in one country.

Nearest neighbors of Bosnia and Herzegovina

1) It occupies the largest neighboring area, with which complex relations have developed in the country. The Serb with whom I talked about states spoke about Bosnia and Herzegovina as if it were one big country and

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with an amazing name (the origin of which can be read). It keeps no less amazing things in itself and undoubtedly does not leave anyone indifferent. This is a country of contrasts, and after a little research, I realized that the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirms this. The state, which was once both under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and under Austria-Hungary, could not but absorb features both European and typically Eastern. Now Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federal state, which is inhabited by as many as three different peoples. It is the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbs, Bosniaks and Croats - that makes it so different, but at the same time incredibly interesting for a tourist who has already visited a huge number of countries and doubts that something could cause him such an unexpected " Wow"!

Unfortunately, many, having heard the name of this beautiful country, are wondering where Bosnia and Herzegovina is located. I answer: this is a state located on the Balkan Peninsula, which until 1992 was part of Yugoslavia. Now it is an independent country, which consists of three parts: the Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brcko District. The first is inhabited mainly by Serbs, the second by Bosniaks and Croats, and the third by all three peoples.

Both the flag and the coat of arms of the country are similar: a yellow triangle on a blue background and a series of five-pointed stars in addition (you can read about the history of the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina ).

Visa and border crossing

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. But it is worth stipulating the moment that you can stay on the territory as a tourist for a maximum of 30 days. If you want to extend your visit, you still have to apply for a visa. This can be done through the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is located in Moscow. Unfortunately, I personally did not spend more than 30 days there, so I cannot give advice on obtaining a Bosnian visa.
To cross the border, you need to have with you not only a valid passport, but also medical insurance, as well as a return ticket, although the latter may not be asked for. Personally, I am not aware of cases when someone was denied entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina, although I flew and went there more than once, so there should not be any problems at the border. Almost every time I arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the procedure for checking documents takes a couple of minutes, after which I go further to cut through the expanses of this seemingly small, but such an immense country.

How to get there

Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is a rather big country, first you need to decide which cities and parts of it you want to visit. This is the decisive factor in the question of how to get to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every time I think over my trip, I try to understand how it is more convenient to get to a particular city.

By plane

You can go the easy way and buy plane tickets from Moscow to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, choosing this method, you will have to buy a ticket with transfers. In my experience, I felt the beauty of such a flight - you arrive tired and lose a whole day on the road. For me personally, there are pluses in such trips: you can choose a ticket with a transfer in Vienna (in my opinion, one of the most convenient airports for such flights. Everything is very accessible and simple, even beginners who have never flown with transfers and, perhaps, even have communication problems in English, they won’t get lost there: there are a lot of signs with pictures) and take a walk around the city instead of boring waiting on sofas at the airport (although, I confess, there are wonderful sofas at Vienna airport where you can relax, the main thing is not to oversleep your flight!). By the way, tickets from Moscow to with a transfer cost from 18 thousand rubles.

Airlines flying include Aeroflot, Austrian Airways, Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines. If this flight option does not make you very happy, you can do it differently: fly to the neighboring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Croatia or Montenegro and get from there by car or bus to your destination. Sometimes it's easier that way. Moreover, direct flights fly to these countries from Moscow. At the airports of Montenegro - and Podgorica - planes from Moscow land daily (and also from St. Petersburg on certain days). Serving airlines - Aeroflot, Montenegro Airlines, Red Wings, S7 Airlines. Prices range from 16 to 35 thousand. If you buy in advance, you can find it cheaper, but this is rare, since tickets to Montenegro are always expensive, especially during the season - in summer and on New Year's Eve. If you fly to Croatia, then you need to buy tickets from Moscow to Dubrovnik. S7 Airlines is flying and the ticket price is from 17 thousand rubles.

You can compare prices and choose a convenient docking.

By train

Traveling by train is far from the most popular option for tourists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To be honest, few people use this type of transport (compared to buses), but of course there are trains, mostly for domestic trips. For example, you can drive from Mostar for only 5-6 euros (11 KM in local currency).

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get from Moscow to Bosnia and Herzegovina by train. The only option is to take it from Moscow to Montenegro or Serbia and from there take a bus to Bosnia and Herzegovina. To be honest, the pleasure is not cheap, and oh-oh-very debilitating. You will have to spend as much as 40 hours on the road just to Serbia and pay about 25,000 rubles for it. for a return ticket. The advantage is that trains depart from Moscow and Belgrade daily. But from Serbia you will have to take a bus to, since trains from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina do not currently follow. The path through Montenegro (city) will be even longer and more expensive. Approximately 30 thousand rubles for 54 hours on the road! Trains leave Moscow every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and return from Bar on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Again, you will have to change to a bus or car and use them to get to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Agree, such a trip is not for everyone.

By bus

There are no buses on the Moscow-Sarajevo route, so this travel option is no longer available. But as for domestic travel by bus, this is one of the cheapest ways to travel around the whole country. By the way, for little money you will go on pretty good buses. For me personally, comfort always comes first, so do not think that you will have to move around in a collapsing vehicle. There is no need to buy tickets in advance, you just need to come to the box office and purchase it on the spot. Bus tickets are quite cheap, especially compared to taxis, which cannot be called such.

By car

One way to get to Bosnia and Herzegovina is to come with your own car from Russia. Yes, the path is long, exhausting, sometimes boring, and every time I personally feel like I will never reach my destination (and it takes about 2.5-3 days to cover 2500 thousand km). But if you are full of enthusiasm and want to enjoy a trip through half of Europe in order to come to this small but such a pretty country in the Balkans, then this way is for you. The main thing is not to forget that you will have to pass through the EU countries, for entry into which you need a Schengen, as well as green cardboard. By the way, we passed the Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina customs border very quickly, but we had to stand at the borders with the EU for a long time: Polish and Hungarian. From experience, I realized that it is best to travel on weekdays to avoid crowds at the borders.
The roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina are narrow, but good, so driving a car should not be a big deal (unless you're driving for the first month, then it's not worth it). Moreover, having your own car, you can take your time enjoying the gorgeous views that will be encountered every 5 minutes on the way, and take as many photos as you like.

By the way, car trips are very profitable if, for example, there are 4 of you in a car. You will have to spend about 300-400 euros on gasoline (one way), depending on your car and its costs, the price may fluctuate. Agree, 300 euros for four than almost the same for one (although round-trip), a much more attractive option for those who follow the budget while traveling.

Top cities

Having first caught fire with the idea of ​​​​going to Bosnia and Herzegovina, any tourist (just like me at one time) will wonder what cities there are in this country at all and which ones are worth visiting in the first place.

I have my own must-see list of cities:

• is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Coming there and not visiting the capital is like coming to and not visiting Times Square. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 took place here, which triggered the First World War. By the way, there is a museum in the city dedicated to this event. Personally, I love coming to the old city - Bascarsiju - it seems that you are not in the Balkan country, but in Istanbul. Here you can also try Turkish coffee, which, by the way, is drunk in incredible quantities in the Balkans and without which no visit is complete. Along with coffee, which is served in a cezve, you will also be served Turkish delight. Go beyond that and order some of the Turkish sweets that are simply amazing here. When I come to Sarajevo, I forget such words as diet and proper nutrition, because it's all worth trying. Where else, if not on vacation in? By the way, all this is very inexpensive by European standards.

• Mostar is another city in Bosnia and Herzegovina with traces of the Ottoman Empire everywhere. The main thing to visit in Mostar is the old town with a magnificent bridge, from where, by the way, daredevils jump into the blue waters of the Neretva River every year. I was personally shocked. Indeed, once there, there is a great desire to swim in this purest river, but usually the water is too cold.

• - a small town on the outskirts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can be easily reached from neighboring countries - Montenegro and Croatia. In this city you can enjoy narrow streets, beautiful churches, coffee in the shade of old plane trees and just take a walk in good weather. By the way, I highly recommend climbing Hercegovacku Gracanicu, which offers a stunning panorama of the entire city. It is here that you can take hundreds of photos for the whole year ahead and then brag about them to your instagram followers.

• Jahorina is a ski resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When I want to go skiing on a budget in the winter and enjoy my vacation to the fullest, I buy tickets and fly here - a very cool resort for those who want to cut through the snowy slopes without spending several salaries.

If you prefer to stay not in hotels, but in private apartments, you can familiarize yourself with the offers for renting apartments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Top attractions

• The Old Town, or rather the Old Bridge in Mostar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is truly mesmerizing. I don’t advise you to jump from the bridge (if you are not a professional in diving, the chances of injuring yourself are very high), but walking and taking pictures under it against its background is a must.

• Vjetrenica is a mesmerizing cave in the south of the country, a visit to which is a must for all lovers of the unusual. Before that, I had never been to any cave, so I experienced many emotions when I arrived at this place. But remember - it's cold inside, take warm clothes, even if it's +30 outside.

• Blagaj is another place that will be imprinted in the memory of any tourist. The green-blue waters of the river that flows in this town beckon to swim. However, a strong current makes you stand on the shore and enjoy these beauties only visually.

• Bridge in the city of Visegrad. The second of two UNESCO sites. The bridge, thanks to which the famous Serbian writer Ivo Andric received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Favorite place for locals. Indeed, the bridge is impressive, and the views that open from it will not leave anyone indifferent.

• Tvrdos Monastery is a beautiful monastery, which is located near the city. When we accidentally stopped by there on the way to Mostar, we were pleasantly surprised. The green area does not let you leave without enjoying the fresh air in the shade of the trees, and the wine cellars, which can also be visited, will not let you leave without a couple of bottles of delicious local wine.

• Kravice Waterfall - a waterfall, seeing which, I could not recover from delight for a long time. Is nature really capable of this? The spectacle is simply amazing, it is worth seeing. By the way, here for special fans of extreme sports there is an opportunity to take a specially trained person and ride a canoe with him.

Weather

The weather conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are conducive to traveling around the country all year round. Naturally, it all depends on which city you are going to stay in, but in general you will not find harsh winters with a 30-degree frost here.
In the northern cities, of course, it is colder, and in winter it is worth warming up by going on a trip. Unlike Moscow, the winter in Bosnia and Herzegovina may seem harsher, despite the fact that the thermometer does not seem to show severe frost. However, it is very windy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which makes it difficult to enjoy relatively warm winters. Therefore, without a scarf and a hat, do not go outside, despite the thermometer.
Summer here is hot and 30 degrees Celsius is quite ordinary weather. So get ready to be hot. It was a pleasant surprise for me to discover the city's outdoor pools, where residents spend hot days without being able to go to the sea. Feel free to go there and spend time sunbathing by the pool. Entrance to such pools is usually either free or costs symbolic money - about 2-3 euros (3-5 KM).
The best time to travel around the country is the end of April-May. Warm, but not hot, and all vegetation begins to bloom. A great opportunity to travel around all the interesting places without languishing from the heat or cold.

Moving around the country

So, you have arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are thinking what to do now, how to get to neighboring cities, how to see the country in general. There are several ways to get around Bosnia and Herzegovina:

1. By bus. The cheapest, but not the most convenient and fastest. Buses run regularly, most often they are good, new vehicles, but there are also those where there are no air conditioners (in the summer you still don’t want to spend a couple of hours in a stuffy bus). You can arrive at Autobuska stanica (the main bus stop from where transport departs to other cities) and see what you have to go there. But for budget travel, you will not find a better and cheaper way to move around the country. For example, from (the capital of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina) to the city of Banja Luka (the capital of the Republika Srpska) can be reached by bus for only 15 euros (29 KM), which, you see, is not so much, given that you have to overcome a long distance over 200 km.
   
2. By taxi. I advise you to use the services of taxi drivers only within the city and ride only official taxis. Often these cars are not marked with anything and there is no “TAXI” sign on them. How to understand that this is a taxi? Usually they stand in certain places of cars for 10-15 and work in turn: you get into the first car and go. Within the city it is very convenient to travel by taxi and quite cheap. For the trip you will give about 3-5 euros (depending on the city where you are). But traveling all over the country by taxi is expensive, so not everyone can afford to spend a lot of money just to get from one place to another.
   
3. By rented car. This is my favorite way. Yes, you can get from city to city by bus, but you won't be able to enjoy the road, you won't be able to stop at a roadside cafe for a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, you won't be able to see those places that are not in the city center, and in the suburbs or even in villages, where no public transport goes. The only problem is expensive gasoline (compared to Moscow). Therefore, if you are a happy owner of a driver's license (by the way, according to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can drive with only a Russian license with you, but in reality, not all police officers know about the existence of this document, so I advise you all - still carry an international driver's license with you so as not to waste time and nerves), feel free to rent a car. The prices here practically do not differ from the pan-European ones. That is, you will have to pay from 50 euros per day or more, depending on which car you prefer (with a manual or automatic transmission, it will be a simple opel or a brand new mercedes). For example, in the travelask section, you can see prices for different car brands and what is included in the rental price. Just be sure to make sure that the place where you rent a car has all the necessary documents (a license, for example) and, when concluding a contract, make sure that in the event of an accident you will not have to cover all costs. By the way, different companies have different rules, but most often a car is issued to those who are over 21 years old and have a driving experience of more than 2 years, but again there may be slightly different conditions. Therefore, in order not to waste time, it is better to read about it in advance on the website of the company where you are going to rent a car.
   
4. To hitchhike. In my opinion, the most dangerous way. I personally never ride like that, especially alone. Still, you do not know the language (and even if you do, your safety is not guaranteed), you do not know anyone to whom you could turn for help. Do not risk it once again and better hit the road on an inexpensive bus.
   
5. There is no subway here and never was.
6. In large cities (, for example) there are trams and buses on which you can move around the city. Very convenient, safe and cheap. It costs about 1 euro. Buy a ticket in the transport itself or at kiosks. In small towns, this is not the case, since almost any place can be reached on foot.
   

Connection

What does a modern person need besides basic necessities? Of course, the Internet, without which, unfortunately, we cannot function normally even on vacation. Everyone who has been to Germany at least once, for example, knows that not only is it free, but wi-fi is hard to find in public places, and you have to pay for it in hotels.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, things are much better with this! Rejoice, internet addicts. In almost all cafes and restaurants you can find an open network, which, by the way, is fast enough to safely check email and social networks.

As for hotels, in almost any Internet is provided free of charge and by default. The main thing is not to stay all day in the room because of this advantage. So despite the available wi-fi, it is better to walk around the city.

By the way, if suddenly the network is password-protected, ask the waiter for the password. Often it is written on the bottom of checks in small letters, since in some places the generator changes the password every day. So pay attention to it.

In general, there should be no problems with the Internet. Feel free to ask for help if you're having trouble connecting. A passport to connect in public places, like any identity document, is not required. I have never met such a network in Bosnia and Herzegovina where they would be asked to enter any personal data.

Naturally, you will have to contact friends, relatives or colleagues in Russia at least a couple of times. I advise you to use the Internet for these purposes, since you will not find a cheaper way to communicate. Calling from local SIM cards (I'm not talking about calls from Russian numbers at all) is very expensive! Money is written off in just a couple of seconds, so use wi-fi.

Language and communication

If you open a geography textbook or just a site on the Internet with general information about Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will see that in the column "language of Bosnia and Herzegovina" it is most often written: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian. I would be very confused by this information. How to communicate with locals? Is it really necessary to learn as many as three languages ​​in order to live in Bosnia and Herzegovina without experiencing translation difficulties? Don't worry, it's not as scary as it might seem at first glance.

During the existence of Yugoslavia, all the peoples now living on the territory of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro spoke the same language - Serbo-Croatian or Croatian-Serbian. It's just that in different parts of the state there were different dialects and dialects. After the collapse of Yugoslavia, each part decided to stand out and introduce its own national language: Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian and Montenegrin. In fact, everyone understands each other and communicates calmly, without learning anything new. Yes, some words may differ (it's like British English and American English, in which the apartment is flat or apartment depending on the country), but in general everything is clear.

The language is very similar to Russian, so in 70% of cases you will understand the main idea of ​​your interlocutor without an interpreter. But don't expect to speak Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian right away. This is unlikely, the grammar is still difficult, without studying it with a teacher, it is almost impossible to master the language.

The further south and closer to the borders with Croatia and Montenegro, the more people understand Russian, the development of tourism motivates the population to learn the language. Therefore, in some parts of the country you do not have to strain with the translation, they will help you.

As for the English language, it is not spoken everywhere. In the capital - yes, in small towns most often you will not be understood. Of course, English is taught in schools, but so far not all employers require knowledge of English when applying for a job.

In order not to get into trouble and at the same time earn the attention and sympathy of the locals (after all, they love it so much when foreigners at least try to say something in their native language), I advise you to learn some phrases that will come in handy anyway.

So, let's begin:

1. Cao = Hello. You will hear "chao" a hundred times a day. Locals always greet and say goodbye, regardless of who they are dealing with. Feel free to say "chao" when entering a store/cafe/museum.
2. Zdravo=- Hello. If "chao" sounds like a rather informal greeting to you, you can say "healthy". But to say goodbye to this word, unlike the previous one, is not worth it. Use it only when greeting.
3. How ste? [kako ste] = How are you? It's always better to start a conversation with a little "nothing" conversation. If suddenly you are asked this question, it will be enough to answer the following phrase.
4. Dobro, hvala. [welcome, praise] = Good, thank you. You should not delve into your problems, especially since you are unlikely to have enough words to continue an interesting conversation.
5. Koliko kosta karta do...? [colico costa card to] = How much is the ticket to..? Useful phrase for buying tickets at the bus stop.
6. Know li, kako da dodjem do..? [know kako da dodge to] = Do you know how to get to..? If you are lost in the city or just do not know which way to go, ask a passerby.
7. Imate li...? [imate li] = Do you have...? How often do we go to the same grocery store while abroad and cannot find the right product because everything is written in the local language. With this phrase, you can get everything you need.
8. Mogu li dobiti racun? [Can I finish Rachun] = Can I get the score? In restaurants and cafes, you will certainly need this phrase. By the way, don't be surprised if the waiter gives you the bill and "stands over your soul" while waiting for you to pay. This is normal, most often there are no special envelopes for paying for dinner / lunch.
9. Hvala-Molim [praise-please] = Thank you - Please. Be polite. Always say thank you in the local language.
10. Gdje mogu da rucam? [where can da rucham] = Where can I have lunch? Sometimes you walk around the city and do not have time to go to a restaurant recommended by friends and acquaintances. Passers-by will come to the rescue, who, like no one else, know where the food is fresh and tasty in the area.

Don't be afraid to use phrases from Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone understands that you are not a local, but when you try to please the inhabitants of the city, then the chances of getting some kind of secret recommendation from them are very high.

Features of the mentality

What can I say about the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina? They are very hospitable. Don't be surprised if the person you just met invites you over for coffee. A cup of coffee most often also means a full meal, so don't be scared, but feel free to agree. At the same time, practice the language, if suddenly you are trying to learn it.

I noticed that the locals are very fond of drinking. It is quite possible to meet a man sipping beer on a hot day in the workplace. Here, no one waits for the evening to have a few glasses of wine. By the way, sometimes after a couple of glasses, locals calmly get behind the wheel and drive home. Naturally, this is punishable by law and is very unsafe, so I advise you to be extremely vigilant if you catch passing cars. You don't want to drive with a drunk driver, do you?

The residents are very responsive. If they see that you need help, they will definitely try to make your life easier. Be smiling, as they are, and your trip will be exclusively in positive colors.

The locals are never in a hurry. Walk around the city in the middle of the working week, despite a lot of things to do? Easily. Therefore, do not run like a late Muscovite along the escalator in the subway, enjoy the moment, devote yourself to rest. This can be learned from the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Food and drink

When I went to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time, I had no idea what food and drinks to try there. Everyone knows about Italian, Japanese, American, Russian cuisine, no matter who you ask. But what do we know about the cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina? What do they eat there? I think if you arrange a survey among ordinary passers-by, few people will answer this question for you.

It turns out that signature dishes depend again on what part of the country you are in. Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats have different national dishes, so it’s hard to recommend what to try in general, but there are still such dishes.

In general, food in Bosnia and Herzegovina is simple, but very fatty and high in calories. So forget about diets. Lots, no, A LOT of dough and meat. And, of course, you can not do without sweets, which are insanely delicious there.

As for drinks, wine is very popular here. And they make it themselves in the southern part of the country. Many families even have their own wineries! Therefore, I advise you to buy local and enjoy it.

Rakia is also made there in the country - a very strong alcohol that not everyone will like. Especially girls.

But do not forget that in the capital, for example, there are a lot of Muslim people who do not drink. Therefore, there are places where you cannot order alcoholic drinks for yourself: only coffee, water and juices.

Coffee is a different story. Here it is drunk everywhere and by everyone. I especially like its serving: in a Turk and with Turkish delight. You can also order Turkish, that is, excuse me, Bosnian sweets for him. Well, how can you resist?

By the way, do not be afraid to buy food on the street! Here, fresh products are used everywhere, so the chances of getting poisoned or infected with something are small. The meat in street stalls is really natural and normal, feel free to take it. For example, I love to eat baked chicken, which is cooked right in the vans in the middle of the road. Real jam. One of these vans can be found on the way from Mostar to Trebinje. If you happen to be there and see this place, be sure to stop and have a bite to eat there.

5 dishes worth trying

So, what should you try first? Here is a list of dishes without which your trip to this amazing country will be incomplete:

• Chevapi (cevapi). Sounds interesting, right? So what is it? These are fried meat sausages served with lots of onions in a large pita (called somun). Most often they are brought in portions of 5, 10, 15 pieces. I advise you to start with 5, and then decide whether you like it or not. Personally, I do not know anyone who would not be delighted with these sausages. Although it would seem that this is unusual? Try it and you will understand.

• Burek is a meat pie. From the classic pie that you usually eat, there is nothing here. Cooks use a special dough in which they put meat with onions. It is very tasty and very satisfying. The locals like to eat this [burek] with yoghurt, which I advise you too. The combination is amazing. It is better, of course, to have breakfast with this, for dinner it is greasy. By the way, if you suddenly do not eat meat, you can buy pita with cheese, potatoes or herbs. They look the same as with meat. It doesn't taste worse. I recommend. By the way, all types of these pies are of two types: it is either a single round pie, which is cut into four parts, or a spiral pie. In my opinion, the first one is tastier, although there is only one recipe.

• Kaymak. This is a very delicate cheese (although, probably, it cannot be called cheese), which can and should be spread on bread and enjoy its taste. I personally prefer "young" kaimak (i.e. fresh, freshly cooked) as it literally melts in your mouth. The "old" kaimak is more tart, greasy, even slightly bitter and sour at the same time. It is worth trying both to understand which type of this dairy product you personally like.

• Lamb on a spit. This is the dish that, it seems to me, even a vegetarian will be forced to sin and eat a piece. Tender, moderately salty, with a crispy crust, meat that quickly disappears imperceptibly from the plates. I do not advise ordering something else for meat, because you will not be able to master it. Particularly impressionable, I ask you not to look at the process of cooking the lamb, as it does not look very pleasant, even a little intimidating. But the end result is just amazing!
• Baklava - local baklava. This is not at all the dry dessert that we buy in stores and eat with tea. It is a juicy sweetness filled with walnuts. They serve it in large pieces, which you are unlikely to master alone. Very sweet and high in calories, but it is impossible to resist without eating it at least once!

shopping

What you need to know about shopping in this country

When people tell me about shopping, the first thing I think about is the numerous boutiques in Milan, Italy. Is it just as good to go shopping in Bosnia and Herzegovina? To be honest, I wouldn't say so. Shopping and Bosnia and Herzegovina are a little different things. There are no endless streets with shops offering a variety of goods, especially in small towns. Of course, chain stores such as zara, bershka and the like are also here, but don't expect anything special.

Local clothing brands are not particularly famous, and I have never found something interesting and unique from them. Therefore, do not expect to spend half of your vacation in local shops.

The only good thing is the prices. Despite the unstable ruble exchange rate, it is still cheaper to buy clothes and shoes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, if you suddenly found something after all, buy it without hesitation.

Products here are also cheaper than in Russia. Especially fruits and vegetables in the markets. I strongly advise you to go to the local market and buy products there, which are most often brought from the nearest gardens. It can be said that the now popular eco-production is without chemicals, which are stuffed with the food that we usually consume.

Bargaining is not accepted here. Especially in stores. You will be sold everything only at a fixed price, which is usually already low. In the market, you can try to ask to reduce the price, suddenly you are lucky.

The best cities for shopping

If you decide to go shopping, despite my excuses, then go either to the capital or to Mostar. It is in these two cities that you can find large shopping centers with boutiques, the same as in all cities in Russia. Remember: in the small towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina there are no large shopping centers at all, it makes no sense to go there for shopping.

In Mostar, the local trading house is called Mepas Mall. It is relatively large, and in principle you can find any clothes, shoes and cosmetics there. Not far from it there are other places where different boutiques are located. All shops are within walking distance from each other, so you can enjoy a stroll through the beautiful city at the same time. Many are mistaken in thinking that in the old town of Mostar you can shop well. This is not so, there you can only buy souvenirs for yourself and friends.

The map below shows that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a relatively large country (well, not compared to Russia, of course, but Montenegro is much smaller). Therefore, first you need to decide from which city and to which you are going to go. This is very important, because you can spend only an hour on the road, or you can spend the whole night!

All the Balkan countries are very beautiful and, of course, if possible, they are worth a visit.

You can get to Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro from Bosnia and Herzegovina by bus, taxi or rented car. The most affordable option is the bus, and if you can handle intercity buses well, feel free to buy your ticket at the local "bus stop" - where all intercity and international buses leave. In a few hours (depending on which city you want to go to) you will reach your destination. Taxi is the most expensive option in my opinion. You will have to shell out a rather large amount (for example, I gave 100 euros by taking a taxi from the city airport to the city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and this is only one way!). The most convenient way is to rent a car (just immediately specify the fact that you going to cross the border in a rented car). So it will be possible to travel by car in comfort throughout the trip and see a lot of interesting things that you can’t get to by bus, let alone walk. My advice to you - if you have the opportunity to rent a car to cut through the narrow roads of Bosnia and Herzegovina and enjoy the beautiful views that this country and its borders give - use this chance.

If you have a lot of free time and you are not averse to a ride to a neighboring country, be sure to make this wish come true. I would go to the ethnovillage, which was built by the famous director Emir Kusturica (by the way, he was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina! If you haven’t watched his films, I advise you!). The place is called Drvengrad and there you can relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle (although 1-2 days is enough, longer it will be boring). As far as I know, you can get to the ethnic village only by car. What is there to do? Walk, breathe fresh mountain air, relax in local restaurants with live music and a glass of delicious homemade wine (by the way, in almost any restaurant in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, you can bring the so-called homemade wine. Local winemakers supply alcoholic products of their own production to restaurants. Agree, it is tasty and sometimes cheaper than the one in bottles). In general, I highly recommend going here, if only to admire the huge portrait of Dostoevsky on one of the wooden houses and see with your own eyes a sign with the inscription "Nikita Mikhalkov Street".

By the way, it is interesting that in different parts of the country there are different banknotes. No, of course, they will accept them anywhere, but the pictures on the money may differ. Pay attention to this: in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republika Srpska, different personalities are depicted on banknotes.

So, you came to the country with rubles/euro/dollars. Where to change? There are exchange offices in the country, they are called Mjenjacnica. Go boldly there and perform the necessary operations. The course, in principle, is the same everywhere, so there is no difference - to change at a bank or at an exchange office.

Rubles, of course, will not be accepted anywhere. You may even be asked what kind of money it is and whether you can see it, but you won’t be able to pay for a purchase or dinner with them. Dollars are also not valid in the country, they must be exchanged for KM.

The situation with the euro is slightly different. If you are in the south of the country (for example, in the city of Trebinje), in many places you can pay with euros (but only with banknotes, coins are not accepted, this is important! I asked the locals what this was connected with, but, unfortunately, I didn’t know the correct answer, it’s possible that it’s not always possible to exchange coins for local currency in banks, so it’s not profitable for cafe and shop owners to take that kind of money). Most often they will calculate by rounding as 1 to 2 (for 1 euro you get 2 KM). But as soon as you drive off only 50 km from the city, no one will agree to accept your money. I personally once got into an awkward situation, trying to pay off the euro in the store for a purchase in Mostar. They looked at me like I was crazy and sent me to the local exchange office. So do not even try, they will not take it, despite your persuasion.

I know that many people prefer to go on trips without cash, using only bank cards, they say, money can be stolen and change will have to be carried in their pockets. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, this approach is not very correct. Bank cards are not accepted everywhere, in particular in small towns. Locals, it seemed to me, rarely use them at all, preferring cash. Yes, in large shopping centers you can pay with a card, but in cozy small cafes and bakeries you may be refused. Therefore, I advise you to have at least a minimum of cash (for food, transport) in order to reach the nearest ATM and withdraw money. A few words about ATMs: of course, they take a commission, but it’s unlikely that your bank card currency is a convertible mark. It is in your interests to use not a ruble, but a euro card, because the commission will be much less.

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